Savor, an innovator in producing pure, multifunctional, and sustainable fats directly from carbon without relying on traditional farming, has entered into a two-year strategic partnership with AAK, a global leader in specialty oils and fats with over 150 years of expertise in plant-based ingredient solutions. The collaboration aims to jointly develop and commercialize advanced fat solutions for dairy alternatives and bakery products, primarily targeting customers in the United States and Europe before expanding globally.

The alliance brings together Savor's proprietary carbon-to-fat technology and AAK's extensive expertise in plant-based fat formulation, product development, and worldwide commercial network. By creating specialty fats independent of conventional agriculture, the partners seek to establish a more resilient supply chain. These innovative fats have the potential to reduce land use by up to 1,000 times and lower carbon emissions by as much as 98% compared with conventional fat production.

Kathleen Alexander, Co-founder and CEO of Savor, emphasized that AAK's leadership in plant-based oils and fats, together with its formulation capabilities and market reach, makes it an ideal partner for scaling the company's technology. She noted that the collaboration would accelerate access to major food manufacturers seeking sustainable ingredient innovations and stronger supply chain resilience.

Kim Olofsson, Global Head of Research and Development at AAK, highlighted that Savor's technology introduces an entirely new source of saturated fats that is independent of agriculture and conventional supply chains while offering significant sustainability benefits. He added that these novel fats can be combined with AAK's plant-based oils to create a broad range of customized functional solutions.

Focus on Dairy Alternatives and Bakery Products
The partnership will initially concentrate on the dairy alternatives and bakery sectors, both of which require high-performance fats capable of delivering desirable texture, flavor, and processing characteristics. As these industries face increasing pressure to diversify ingredient sourcing, Savor's technology offers a flexible production platform that can operate anywhere without fertile land, fertilizers, or freshwater resources. When integrated with plant-based oils, the technology has the potential to strengthen supply chain resilience while providing greater cost stability and reducing exposure to market fluctuations over time.

Chiara Cecchini, Senior Vice President of Commercialization at Savor, stated that food and consumer packaged goods manufacturers are simultaneously challenged by supply chain disruptions and the need to reduce the environmental impact of their ingredients. She described the collaboration as a practical solution that addresses both concerns for customers.

Ronald van der Knaap, Global Head of Dairy, Early Life Nutrition, and Savory at AAK, noted that the partnership responds to an important industry demand by combining sustainability and supply chain resilience with superior taste and texture. According to him, the collaboration will enable the development of innovative food applications that enhance overall consumer satisfaction in two key market segments.

Cayuga Milk Ingredients (CMI), in partnership with Tetra Pak—an industry leader in food processing and packaging—has officially launched its expanded facility in Auburn, Cayuga County. This milestone marks the completion of the first phase of a significant two-part, multimillion-dollar investment in New York state.

Coinciding with National Dairy Month in June, the ribbon-cutting ceremony welcomed local and state officials, along with representatives from major dairy organizations such as the New York Farm Bureau, New York Animal Agriculture Coalition, Northeast Agribusiness and Feed Alliance, and Northeast Dairy Producers Association.

CMI stands out in the global food industry, processing approximately 1.5 billion pounds of milk annually from 65,000 acres of rich farmland. The business is collectively owned and operated by 22 farm families managing 32 farms across the Finger Lakes region. Their product offerings include a range of dairy-based ingredients like milk and protein powders, as well as fluid milk. With the addition of a new consumer-grade dairy production facility, CMI is reinforcing its role as a fully integrated, premium contract manufacturer for high-value, innovative dairy items—focused on enhancing nutritional quality while maintaining environmental responsibility.

“Shelf-stable technology is transforming what’s possible in the food and beverage space,” said Mat Rutz, Vice President of Contract Manufacturing at Tetra Pak for the U.S. and Canada. “Collaborating with CMI to broaden their capabilities through our advanced packaging and processing solutions is an exciting step forward. We're committed to sustainable industry growth and proud to be part of this evolution.”

Tetra Pak and CMI are united in their environmental mission, emphasizing sustainability across the production and supply chain. This facility expansion—supported by state-level incentives—further promotes the use of shelf-stable packaging that not only cuts costs and improves efficiency but also reduces food waste and the carbon footprint tied to shipping and storage.
The project has already created over 350 construction-related jobs, with an additional 150 permanent positions expected once the plant becomes fully operational in fall 2025—a major boost to workforce development in New York’s agricultural sector.

“This new consumer products facility represents a bold step forward, where innovation and sustainable agriculture converge to redefine food production,” said Brian Linney, CMI’s CEO. “As a cornerstone of New York’s dairy economy, we’re proud to deepen our local investment with a vertically integrated facility that will deliver both community benefits and broader economic returns for the state.”

Facility Overview